Multi-color marking implement

ABSTRACT

A multi-color marking implement designed to be used by students, artists, shipping clerks, and the like wherein the body of the implement is a tubular container comprised of a plurality of separate elongated internal liquid-tight chambers, each chamber containing a different color ink, from the others and extending from one end of the aforedescribed container body, there being a corresponding plurality of separate nibs each of which communicates with a separate ink chamber in the body to provide a different marking color for each nib.

United States Patent 1 1 Rosh, Jr.

[ 1 June 3, 1975 1 MULTI-COLOR MARKING IMPLEMENT [76] Inventor: Dale M.Rosh, Jr., R.D. No. l,

Dallastown, Pa. 17313 22 Filed: Feb. 28, 1974 [211 App]. No: 446,724

[52] US. Cl 401/35; 401/198 [51] Int. Cl. 343k 27/08 [58] Field ofSearch 401/34, 35, 198, 199, 202,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,144,658 1/1939 Hirth401/35 X 3,093,113 6/1963 Reynoso 401/35 3,278,976 10/1966 Ward 401/1983,345,674 10/1967 DeGroft... 401/198 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS521,507 3/1955 Italy 401/35 Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney,Agent, or Firm-C. Hercus Just; Samuel M. Learned, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A multi-color marking implement designed to be used bystudents, artists, shipping clerks, and the like wherein the body of theimplement is a tubular container comprised of a plurality of separateelongated internal liquid-tight chambers, each chamber containing adifferent color ink, from the others and extending from one end of theaforedescribed container body, there being a corresponding plurality ofseparate nibs each of which communicates with a separate ink chamber inthe body to provide a different marking color for each nib.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MULTI-COLOR MARKING IMPLEMENT BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION Multi-color marking implements, exemplified, for example,by those such as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 1,938,835 to Grzyb, dated Dec.[2, 1933; US. Pat. No. 2,554,335 to Kollsman, dated May 22, 1951; US.Pat. No. 2,585,016 to Kollsman, dated Feb. 12, 1952; and US. Pat. No.3,079,895 to Gordon, dated Mar. 5, I963, have long been known. Themarking devices shown in the aforementioned patents basically employsome method of incorporating multiple ball-point tips or conventionalseparate metallic pen nibs arranged in groups to provide a compositewriting instrument, in which each tip or nib is supplied with adifferent color ink.

Additionally, the so called felt type nib marking implements, employingvarious single color opaque or transparent inks, such as illustrated inUS. Pat. No. 3,278,976 to Ward, dated Oct. 18, I966, have also beenknown for some years and have come into popular use. Writing instrumentsusing clusters of fibers to form the nib also are known.

In particular, the writing instruments employing felt nibs areadvantageous to apply broader lines of ink than are possible to beformed by ball-point pens or those using conventional steel pen nibs.However, to use different colors of ink at present with felt typeinstruments, it is necessary to have a different pen for each colordesired. The present invention obviates this necessity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention toprovide a multi-color marking implement, having nibs made of felt orother suitable material, wherein one can use a single implement to writeor mark with the number of colors contained therein, whereas it wouldotherwise require an equivalent number of separate color markingimplements in order to accomplish the same result.

It is another object to provide a multiple-nibbed multi-color markingimplement having nibs made of felt or other suitable material, the nibsbeing inserted into one end of an elongated tubular ink-retainingreservoir body having an internal construction comprising a plurality ofpartitions forming separate liquidtight chambers wherein the differentcolored inks respectively are contained. Said partition members protrudeexternally beyond the ink chamber section of the body to also separatethe nibs from each other, thereby preventing nibto-nib contact and aresultant undesirable color contamination between the inks with the nibarea.

It is a further object to feed a specific color of ink to eachrespective nib from a corresponding color chamber by absorptive actionof the ink contacting that wick portion of the nib which is within eachrespective ink chamber, and a fitted cap is provided commonly to protectthe plurality of nibs when the instrument is not in use and also preventloss or deterioration of inks due to evaporation of the componentsthereof through unnecessarily exposed nibs, as well as to prevent saidnibs from contacting clothing and other things when said implement isnot in use.

A major benefit to be obtained from the present invention is that onemay now do with a single multi color marking implement that which wouldhave heretofore required a number of similar type single color markingimplements. For example, with this invention a student may use as manyas four different transparent color marking implements to emphasizevarious text materials, instead of having to use and also carry fourseparate markers, each with a different color ink, whereasthe studentwould require only one marker of the multi-color type. Further, there isa considerable facility with which the change of color of marking can beaccomplished in that one merely needs to rotate the muIti-color markingimplement within ones hand in order to apply a different color or blendtwo or more colors. Therefore, the present invention eliminates the needand necessity for handling multiple marking implements in use in orderto use multiple colors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation inperspective of a multicolor marking implement embodying the principlesof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view revealing details ofpartitions in the chamber body shown in FIG. 1, as seen on the line 2-2thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation in perspective of the nib sectionof one embodiment of the marking implement shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation in perspective of anotherembodiment of nib design for the marking implement of the type shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation in perspective of a still furtherembodiment of nibretainin g shoulder design for the marking emplement ofthe type shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation in perspective of yet anotherembodiment of nib-retaining shoulder design for the marking implement ofthe type shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, a multi-colormarking implement 10 is shown, being generally comprised of a tubularbody 12, a plurality of liquid-tight internal partition members 14forming a series of ink chambers 16, an extended plurality of externalpartition members 14, a base 18, a plurality of nibs 20 with acorresponding communicating plurality of nib-wicks 22, and a detachablyfitted cap 24, shown in phantom, to illustrate the nib 20 and nib-wick22 sections more clearly.

Also referring to FIG. 1, to explain in more detail the construction ofthis invention, which provides a capability for multi-color marking witha single implement l0, and as heretofore indicated, said tubular body12, has a preferred configuration generally as shown in FIG. I whichcontains a plurality of internal liquid-tight partition members 14 thatoutwardly conform in shape to the interior configuration of said tubularbody I2, and extend from said base I8 interiorly to the nibretainingshoulder 19 and form a series of separate internal liquid-tight inkchambers 16. Said partition members 14, however, extend longitudinallybeyond said nib-retaining shoulder 19 to form said external partitionmembers 140, the function of which is to prevent said nibs 20 fromcoming into contact with each other when said ink chambers 16 are filledwith different color inks, either of the opaque or transparent variety.Said different color inks communicate by absorptive action through therespectively inserted nib-wicks 22 to the corresponding nibs 20.

Said external partition members 14a, therefore, serve to separate onenib 20 from another nib 20 of different color ink, thereby preventingnib-to-nib contact which would otherwise result in undesirable colorcontamination between said different color inks within the nibs 20. Whensaid multi-color marking implement it] is not in use, the nibs 20 areprotected by affixing thereto said detachably fitted cap 24, which ispreferably constructed of a transparent material in order to reveal thevarious nib colors when said cap 24 is in closed position on said body12.

Operation of said multi-color marking implement I is accomplished simplyby removing said detachably fitted cap 24, and holding said implementit] in ones hand in such a manner as to present the marking surface 26of the desired nib 20 color to the surface to be marked. To changecolor, one simply need rotate said implement within ones hand to presenta different color nib marking surface 26 to the surface to be marked,and proceed to apply the desired color.

The implement 10, including the detachably fitted cap 24, disclosed inFIG. 1 may be constructed of metal, or plastic, or a combinationthereof, or any other suitable material. The nibs 20 disclosed thereinmay be constructed of felt or any other material, such as a cluster ofglass or other fibers, suitable for absorptively communicating eitheropaque or transparent ink from the ink chamber 16 to the respective nib20 marking surface 26.

The view seen in FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section along the line 2--2of FIG. 1, showing the manner by which said liquid-tight ink chambers16, each containing a different color ink, are formed by partitionmembers 14 within said tubular body 12 of said multi-color markingimplement 10.

The view seen in FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective of the nib section 20shown in FIG. 1. More clearly seen, however are said external partitionmembers 14a separating said nibs 20 one from the other, marking surfaces26, of nibs in addition to nib-retaining shoulder 19, whereby said nibs20 are frictionally held in place between said shoulder 19 and saidexternal partition members 140.

In FIG. 4 there is shown an enlarged perspective view of anotherembodiment of nib section of the type shown in FIG. 1, wherein said nibs20 have not only marking surfaces 26, but in addition, have markingsurfaces 260 formed by a varied nib design at the outer corners thereof.

The view seen in FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective of the nib sectionshown in FIG. 1, with, however, a modified design of nib-retainingshoulder 1%, wherein nibretaining shoulder 19 has been longitudinallyextended to provide support for said nibs 20 between said modifiedshoulder 19b and said external partition members 14a. In FIG. 6 there isshown an enlarged perspective view of yet another embodiment ofnib-retaining shoulder 19c design, which design provides maximum nib 20support but includes cut away clearances in the shoulders 1% to exposecorners of the nibs 20 for use.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its severalpreferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is notto be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and describedsince the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scopeof the invention as illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A multi-color marking implement having an elongated tubular bodyclosed at one end thereof and at the opposite end thereof a plurality ofmarking units comprising in combination, a cluster of elongated thin ribmembers extending longitudinally within said body and engaging eachother at adjacent edges with the opposite edges thereof engaging theinner walls of said body to form a plurality of elongated integrallycontained stationary ink retaining partition chambers, said ribsextending between the opposite interior ends of said body and outwardtherefrom at the marking unit end to form separation and support meansfor nibs, each of said separation and support means enclosing betweenthe sides thereof at the marking unit of said body, a stationary nibformed from material adapted to absorb and respectively retain adifferent color ink with one end of said nibs being flush with the outerextremity of said ribs and portions of said ribs being exposed outwardlyfrom said separation and support means of the marking end of saidimplement to provide a marking surface for each nib, and said chambersand nibs respectively being adapted to contain and feed inks ofdifferent colors therefrom for selective use of the same for markingpurposes.

2. The multi-color marking implement according to claim 1, wherein thewriting end of said body is square and said ribs engage the flat sidesthereof intermediately of the edges thereof, the corners of the writingend of said body being relieved to expose corners of said nibs in eachchamber.

1. A multi-color marking implement having an elongated tubular bodyclosed at one end thereof and at the opposite end thereof a plurality ofmarking units comprising in combination, a cluster of elongated thin ribmembers extending longitudinally within said body and engaging eachother at adjacent edges with the opposite edges thereof engaging theinner walls of said body to form a plurality of elongated integrallycontained stationary ink retaining partition chambers, said ribsextending between the opposite interior ends of said body and outwardtherefrom at the marking unit end to form separation and support meansfor nibs, each of said separation and support means enclosing betweenthe sides thereof at the marking unit of said body, a stationary nibformed from material adapted to absorb and respectively retain adifferent color ink with one end of said nibs being flush with the outerextremity of said ribs and portions of said ribs being exposed outwardlyfrom said separation and support means of the marking end of saidimplement to provide a marking surface for each nib, and said chambersand nibs respectively being adapted to contain and feed inks ofdifferent colors therefrom for selective use of the same for markingpurposes.
 1. A multi-color marking implement having an elongated tubularbody closed at one end thereof and at the opposite end thereof aplurality of marking units comprising in combination, a cluster ofelongated thin rib members extending longitudinally within said body andengaging each other at adjacent edges with the opposite edges thereofengaging the inner walls of said body to form a plurality of elongatedintegrally contained stationary ink retaining partition chambers, saidribs extending between the opposite interior ends of said body andoutward therefrom at the marking unit end to form separation and supportmeans for nibs, each of said separation and support means enclosingbetween the sides thereof at the marking unit of said body, a stationarynib formed from material adapted to absorb and respectively retain adifferent color ink with one end of said nibs being flush with the outerextremity of said ribs and portions of said ribs being exposed outwardlyfrom said separation and support means of the marking end of saidimplement to provide a marking surface for each nib, and said chambersand nibs respectively being adapted to contain and feed inks ofdifferent colors therefrom for selective use of the same for markingpurposes.